Women candidates vote for each other

Dubai: Advocate Jasem Al Naqbi who was in the fray in Sharjah was seen defending a suspect in a Dubai court at 9.30am yesterday. When asked why wasn't he in the voting centre at the Sharjah Expo, he said: "Defending my client is a responsibility which I have to meet even if I am running for the elections."

• With the flow of voters slowing down as the afternoon wore on, one overworked cameraman was seen catching up on some sleep in the polling station's entrance hall.
• Female solidarity was in evidence in Ajman. After voting, both Aisha Kajour and Rima Al Shurafa revealed that they voted for each other. The two are the only women in the running. Rima's brother is also a candidate, but she said she preferred to give her vote to Aisha, because "I support the women's block."
• The ubiquitous Nour Ali - the UAE's royal photographer since 1958 - made an appearance in Ajman, commanding the same respect as he received in Dubai. Ali asked candidates to come down from the stage on which they were seated for a photo-call. They obliged. "This is democracy," he quipped.
• Only one person needed help from the voting committee in Umm Al Quwain as he could neither read nor write.